Toy dump

ABSTRACT

A toy dump arranged so as to be suitably applied to children of today. The toy dump includes a dump body and a weight member detachably mounted on the dump body. The dump body is formed into a plate-like shape and provided with at least one mounting section for detachably mounting the weight member therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a toy dump, and more particularly to a toy dump improved so as to be suitably applied to children of today.

[0002] A toy dump is one of typical traditional toys in Japan and commonly called a toy menko or merely a menko in Japan. A Japanese traditional toy menko or toy dump is made of a pasteboard. A menko or dump game using such toy menkos or toy dumps has been highly popular among children since early times. The dump game is generally practiced in such a manner that a dump game player strikes his own dump against an opponent s dump to overturn the latter, resulting in gaining it. Thus, the dump game exhibits increased gambling properties, to thereby be unsuitable as play for children. Also, a TV game has recently come into wide use among children. Such a circumstance causes the dump game to be rarely seen in the play world in spite of the fact that it exhibits increased play or game characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art.

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy dump which is improved so as to be suitably applied to children of today while exhibiting increased play or game characteristics as in a traditional toy dump or menko.

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a toy dump is provided. The toy dump includes a dump body and at least one weight member detachably mounted on the dump body. The dump body is formed into a plate-like configuration. The dump body is provided with at least one weight mounting section for detachably mounting the weight member therethrough on the dump body while preventing the weight member from being detached from the dump body.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of a card and a seal may be arranged on an upper side of the dump body. The card or seal has a character or characteristics of the toy dump described thereon.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy dump is played on a game board made of an elastic material.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy dump is generally formed into a square configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout; wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toy dump according to the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy dump shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a dump body of the toy dump shown in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing mounting of a cover member on a rear side of the dump body shown in FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cover member which has been mounted on a rear side of the dump body shown in FIG. 3; and

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a toy dump and a game board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Now, a toy dump according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a toy dump according to the present invention is illustrated. A toy dump of the illustrated embodiment generally designated at reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is generally constituted by a dump body la, at least one weight member 2, front cover members 3 a and 3 b, and a rear cover member 3 c.

[0019] The dump body 1 a is made of a synthetic resin material and formed into a plate-like square shape of which each side has a length of about 70 mm. The dump body 1 a, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, is formed at each of four corners thereof with a holding groove 5 for holding the cover members 3 a and 3 b therein. The holding grooves 5 each are formed so as to be open along a face of the dump body 1 a. The dump body 1 a is also formed at a central portion of each of sides of a rear surface or side thereof with a holding pawl 6 for the rear cover member 3 c, so that a groove 7 may be defined between each of the holding pawls 6 and the rear surface or side of the dump body la, as shown in FIG. 5. Further, the dump body 1 a is formed at each of the four corners thereof with a through-hole 8 so as to extend in an axial direction thereof or so as to extend through the front and rear surfaces thereof.

[0020] In addition, the dump body 1 a is provided with four weight mounting sections 9, each of which is arranged so as to permit the weight member 2 to be selectively mounted therein in a detachable manner. More specifically, the weight mounting sections 9 each provided on a rear side thereof with a pair of overhangs 10 in a manner to be opposite to each other. Also, the weight mounting sections 9 each are formed on a front side thereof with a circular opening, which is formed into a size covering the overhang 10. The openings each are closed with each of bridges 11 formed on the front side of the dump body 1 a.

[0021] The weight member 2 may be made of a suitable material such as synthetic resin, wood, metal or the like and formed into substantially the same configuration as that of the rear side of each of the weight mounting sections 9. Also, the weight member 2 is formed into a size sufficient to permit it to be fitted in the weight mounting section 9 arranged on the rear side thereof. Further, the weight member 2 is provided on both sides thereof with a pair of lugs 12 in correspondence to the overhangs 10 of each of the weight mounting sections 9. In addition, the weight member 2 is formed at a central portion thereof with a slit groove 13 so as to extend therethrough.

[0022] One of the front cover members which is designated at reference numeral 3 a is made of a paper material having a suitable pattern such as a character or the like applied thereto, resulting in being a label cover member. The other front cover member 3 b is made of a transparent plastic material, resulting in being a plastic cover member. Also, the rear cover member 3 c is made of a transparent plastic material. The cover members 3 a, 3 b and 3 c each are formed into a substantially square shape.

[0023] The front cover members 3 a and 3 b may be replaced with a single cover member made of a plastic material and having any desired pattern printed thereon. The single cover member may be made in the form of either a card-like member or a seal-like member.

[0024] Now, a manner of assembling the toy dump of the illustrated embodiment thus constructed will be described.

[0025] First of all, the weight member 2 is fitted in any desired one of the weight mounting sections 9 provided on the rear side of the dump body la as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the weight member 2 is rotated by means of a coin or the like fitted in the slit groove 13 of the weight member 2 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the lugs 12 of the weight member 2 each may be moved to a position under each of the overhangs 10, to thereby be held therein. This results in preventing the weight member 2 from being detached from the lower side of the dump body la. Also, the dump body 1 a, as described above, is formed on the front side thereof with the bridges 11, each of which prevents the weight member 2 from being detached from the front side of the dump body 1 a. This permits the weight member 2 to be firmly held in the weight mounting section 9. Then, the rear cover member 3 c is applied to the rear side of the dump body 1 a, so that the central portion of each of the sides thereof is held by each of the holding pawls 6. Subsequently, the label cover member 3 b and plastic cover member 3 a are superposedly arranged on the front side of the dump body 1 a in order and then each of the corners of the cover members 3 a and 3 b is held in each of the holding grooves 5 of the dump body 1 a as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. This results in assembling of the toy dump 1 being completed.

[0026] For preparation of a dump game carried out using the toy dump of the illustrated embodiment, the weight member 2 is selectively mounted in any desired one of the weight mounting sections 9 to adjust weight balance of the toy dump 1 as desired. The rear cover member 3 is made of a transparent material as described above, so that the weight mounting section 9 in which the weight member 2 is mounted may be visibly observed from the rear side of the toy dump 1.

[0027] Disassembling of the toy dump 1 thus assembled is carried out by detaching the front and rear cover members 3 a, 3 b and 3 c from the dump body la and then rotating the weight member 2 in a direction opposite to that described above to release it from the dump body 1 a.

[0028] The toy dump 1 of the illustrated embodiment constructed as described above may be preferably or conveniently played on a dedicated game board 14 constructed as shown in FIG. 7. The game board 14 is preferably made of an elastic material and formed into a square configuration which has sides each formed into a length about 12 times as long as that of each of the sides of the toy dump 1. Elasticity of the game board 14 prevents the toy dump 1 from being damaged when the latter is struck against the former. Also, such elasticity, when a dump player strikes his toy dump 1 against the game board 14, permits the toy dump 1 to relatively readily overturn the toy dump of an opponent player on the game board 14 or flick it out thereof.

[0029] For the purpose of enjoying a dump game using the toy dump of the illustrated embodiment, it is desired to predetermine a rule for the game. More specifically, a win-loss record of the game is determined by a score. When a player carries out dump striking operation or strikes his toy dump against the toy dump of an opponent player, to thereby overturn the opponent s toy dump, he scores one point. The dump game may be carried out, for example, in a one-to-one or two-to-two relation. An order in which dump striking operation is carried out is determined by a kind of mora or tossing a coin. Then, each of dump game players selects any one of the four sides of the square game board 14 as his own position. In a one-to-one game (or a two-player game), two of the four sides of the game board 14 adjacent to each other are selected as positions for each of the two players. In this case, the two players each hold eight such toy dumps 1. In a two-to-two game (or a four-player game), one of the four sides is selected as a position for each of the four players. Each of the four players holds four such toy dumps 1. During the game, each of the dump game players can carry out dump striking operation only within his own position. Later striking players or players who carry out dump striking operation later each place any desired one of their own toy dumps on the game board 14. A first striking player or a player who first carries out dump striking operation strikes any desired one of his own toy dumps against any one of the toy dumps of later striking players (or opponent players) placed on the game board 14, as in the traditional toy dump. When such dump striking operation by the first striking player causes overturning of the toy dump 1 of any one of the remaining players or opponent players, the first striking player scores one point. Then, the game is advanced while keeping the overturned toy dump left on the game board 4. During advance of the game, when any one of later striking players strikes his toy dump against the overturned toy dump to overturn it again or permit it to face up, the score of the first striking player is invalidated or canceled. Also when a player strikes his toy dump against the toy dump of any opponent player to flick the latter out of the game board 14, he is permitted to make a score. However, in this case, when the player causes his own toy dump to be put out of the game board 14, the opponent players each make a score. When any player concurrently overturns two or more toy dumps of opponent players at a time, he scores predetermined points, as well as bonus points. When all players subject their own toy dumps to the dump striking operation or play, their scores are totalized and compared with each other, resulting in a player which has scored a possible winning the game.

[0030] The dump game carried out in such a manner as described above permits gambling properties as seen in the traditional toy dump to be substantially eliminated from the toy dump. Also, it permits the toy dump to exhibit significantly enhanced game properties. Thus, the toy dump of the illustrated embodiment provides a wholesome play or game.

[0031] Also, in the illustrated embodiment, mounting of the weight member 2 on the rear side or rear surface of the dump body la leads to a variation in characteristics of the toy dump 1. For example, the toy dump may be operated in such a manner that the weight mounting side of the toy dump attacks the toy dump of any opponent player. This leads to significant damage to the opponent s toy dump and renders overturning of his own toy dump difficult. Further, the label cover member which is one of the front cover members has a pattern or the like applied thereto, to thereby render a position in the dump body at which the weight member is arranged invisible from the front side of the toy dump. Thus, it is demanded that a player makes a dump game while supposing a position of a center of gravity of the toy dump. This requires a skill and force, as well as good luck in order to overturn the toy dump of any opponent player, resulting in the dump game being more complicated or sophisticated.

[0032] Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the label cover member may have characteristics of the toy dump 1 such as the number of weight members or the like displayed thereon. This permits a consumer to enjoy collection of only the label cover members or cards.

[0033] The toy dump of the illustrated embodiment may be generally formed into a circular configuration as a whole. In this instance as well, the toy dump may be constructed in substantially the same manner as described above.

[0034] Moreover, it is not necessary required that the rear cover member is transparent.

[0035] As can be seen form the foregoing, the toy dump of the present invention is so constructed that the damp body is formed into a plate-like configuration and provided with at least one weight mounting section for detachably mounting the weight member therethrough on the dump body while preventing the weight member from being detached from the dump body. Such construction permits a center of gravity of the toy dump to be suitably set as desired. Also, it permits an opponent player to be hard to visually recognize a position of the weight member in the toy dump, so that the opponent player is required to play a dump game while presuming a position of a center of gravity of the toy dump. Thus, in order to win a dump game, a player requires a skill and force, as well as good luck, resulting in the dump game being more complicated or sophisticated. Also, establishment of a rule for the dump game permits game characteristics of the toy dump to be enhanced while eliminating gambling properties therefrom.

[0036] Also, the toy dump of the present invention may permit the card and/or seal to be arranged on the upper side of the dump body, wherein the card and/or seal may have a character or characteristics of the toy dump described thereon. This permits the dump game to be complicated or sophisticated and a player to enjoy collection of the card and/or seal as well s the game.

[0037] Further, in the present invention, the toy dump may be played on the game board made of an elastic material. This minimizes damage to the toy dump and enhances game characteristics of the toy dump.

[0038] Moreover, in the present invention, the toy dump may be generally formed into a square configuration. Such configuration of the toy dump leads to enhancement in game characteristics of the toy dump, because a player strikes a corner of his toy dump or a side thereof against the toy dump of an opponent player.

[0039] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to the drawings, obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

What is claimed is
 1. A toy dump comprising: a dump body; and at least one weight member detachably mounted on said dump body; said dump body being formed into a plate-like configuration; said dump body being provided with at least one weight mounting section for detachably mounting said weight member therethrough on said dump body while preventing said weight member from being detached from said dump body.
 2. A toy dump as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a card and a seal arranged on an upper side of said dump body; said card or seal having a character or characteristics of said toy dump described thereon.
 3. A toy dump as defined as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said toy dump is played on a game board made of an elastic material.
 4. A toy dump as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said toy dump is generally formed into a square configuration. 